Tonight's Movie: The Little Princess (1939) - A Film Masters Blu-ray Review

The Frances Hodgson Burnett novel A LITTLE PRINCESS was one of my very favorite books growing up, and I reread it many times.

In fact, I still vividly remember picking out the paperback copy while shopping with my parents at Pickwick Books at South Coast Plaza when I was maybe seven years old, and I own it to this day.

I have to admit to avoiding the Shirley Temple film version for most of my life simply because I knew that the screenplay, by Ethel Hill and Walter Ferris, used the book as a springboard for the movie and made many changes. That was difficult for me to accept, given how much I loved the novel.

That said, this was a film I really needed to finally see, especially with favorites such as Marcia Mae Jones, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, and Cesar Romero in the cast.

The movie, which is in the public domain, is now out in a new Blu-ray edition from the Film Masters Archive Collection. Film Masters has done a wonderful job on other public domain prints, some of which I've reviewed here, so this review was the perfect opportunity to finally watch the movie, and I'm glad I did.

THE LITTLE PRINCESS -- note the slight title change from the book -- stars Shirley Temple as Sara Crewe.

It's 1899, and Sara's wealthy widowed father, Captain Crewe (Hunter), leaves his little girl at an exclusive London boarding school while he goes off to fight in the Boer War.

Miss Minchin (Mary Nash), the school's owner, covers up her nasty temperament and shows deference to Sara due to her father's money. Sara has the best of everything at the school, hence her nickname as "the little princess."

Alas, word comes that Captain Crewe has been killed in action and simultaneously it's said that his fortune has failed. Sara is stripped of her possessions, banished to a fireless room in the cold attic, and forced to act as a kitchen maid since she no longer has money.

Sara suffers greatly at the hands of Miss Minchin and unkind pupils such as Lavinia (Jones), but she refuses to believe her father is dead and regularly visits the local military hospital hoping to find him.

Meanwhile, Sara has friends looking out for her, including Ram Dass (Romero), a servant who lives in the neighboring mansion and observes her plight. One night, he makes magic happen for Sara and the other little servant Becky (Sybil Jason), and they wake up to a warm fire, bathrobes, and food. It's glorious...until Miss Minchin finds out.

This 93-minute film is actually quite good, though as mentioned it takes huge liberties with the book. It uses the bones of the original story but adds in a romance between a pair of kind teachers (Anita Louise and Richard Greene), and most significantly it changes the outcome of the entire plot regarding Sara's father.

In the book, Captain Crewe's close friend searches vainly for Sara for a very long time; the friend turns out to be the employer of Ram Dass, living right next door, and it also so happens that Sara is still very wealthy. Sara has a happy ending, once again loved and cared for, but not with her father.

The movie has a different but also satisfying ending, which involves...Queen Victoria (Beryl Mercer)?!

Temple is quite good, in her Shirley Temple way, taking Sara through her journey. She's a kind, brave, and likeable girl, and Temple also has a chance to dance.

It's of note that a dream ballet was staged by Ernest Belcher, the father of Marge Champion (born Marjorie Belcher). Other dances, with Temple and Arthur Treacher, were staged by Nick Castle and Geneva Sawyer.

The film is buoyed by solid production values -- Sarah's birthday sequence is a particularly colorful visual delight, with a gorgeous cake -- and a good cast, which also includes Miles Mander and E.E. Clive. An interesting bit of trivia is that Kenneth Hunter, who plays a general, was the older brother of one of the movie's stars, Ian Hunter.

Mary Nash, incidentally, was also mean Fraulein Rottenmeier in Temple's HEIDI (1937), with Marcia Mae Jones costarring as Klara.

The warmth of the performances by actors such as Louise, Treacher, and Romero helps make Sara's suffering tolerable, as we know it can't last for long with these people in her corner.

I'll add the comment that, as with many films of this era, despite the British setting the accents are all over the place!

THE LITTLE PRINCESS was directed by Walter Lang and the uncredited William A. Seiter. Lang directed a great many good films at 20th Century-Fox, including favorites such as MOON OVER MIAMI (1941) and STATE FAIR (1945).

The movie was filmed in Technicolor by Arthur Miller and William Skall.

As I referenced at the beginning, Film Masters has done an excellent job with their releases, including titles I've reviewed such as THE STRANGE WOMAN (1946) and THE SECOND WOMAN (1950). I felt this print was very good quality for a public domain film.

The color is a bit soft, with almost a Trucolor look in some scenes, but it looks good, and there are no distracting skips or scratches. The soundtrack is excellent, with the dialogue easy to understand.

There are no extras, but optional English-language captions are provided.

I was happy with both the film and this Blu-ray and will be enjoying it again in the future.

Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Film Masters for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. It may be purchased via Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Tonight's Movie: Possessed (1931) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

There are many terrific titles coming this summer from the Warner Archive Collection, and I've already discovered a particular favorite, POSSESSED (1931).

POSSESSED stars the sizzling team of Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. I'll mention right off the bat this movie has no connection to Crawford's later film of the exact same name.

POSSESSED is a very "pre-Code" fantasy in which lower class working girl Marian Martin (Crawford) goes to the big city and lands herself a big fish who will make all her dreams come true.

Marian becomes the mistress of wealthy attorney Mark Whitney (Gable), who refuses to marry again after a bad past experience.

Marian, known in Mark's circles as independently wealthy "Mrs. Moreland," tries to be happy with Mark's love and all that his money can buy. But as the years pass she wants more; her self-respect finally starts to be dented being a "kept woman," and she'd also like more commitment from Mark simply because she loves him.

When it appears as though their relationship could damage Mark's potential political career, Marian nobly tries to step aside...

This was a first-time watch for me, and I found POSSESSED up there with LETTY LYNTON (1932) in terms of being simply a delicious pre-Code, with Crawford at her '30s peak.

By this point in her career she was an excellent actress and had the glamour look down pat, including glorious gowns by Adrian, who also designed Crawford's spectacular LETTY LYNTON wardrobe. She wears a black gown in this one, seen here, which is stunning.

Although the story, adapted by Lenore Coffee from Edgar Selwyn play THE MIRAGE, has Marian acting in very unrespectable ways -- sort of a '30s version of PRETTY WOMAN (1990) -- Crawford totally sells both Marian and her choices. She always maintains audience sympathy, even if we don't wholly approve of what she's doing.

That said, it's hard to fault her for wanting a relationship with Gable, who's incredibly handsome and romantic, other than the "not wanting to get married" angle. And he's wealthy too? She hit the jackpot.

The movie is sensitively directed by Clarence Brown and beautifully filmed in gorgeous black and white by Oliver T. Marsh. 

76 minutes fly by; indeed, the short running time is another of the film's virtues. Drama and trauma near the end isn't dragged out but is resolved quickly and romantically.

The supporting cast includes Wallace Ford, Frank Conroy, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, and Clara Blandick; the latter was coincidentally just seen in another MGM pre-Code from the same year, IT'S A WISE CHILD (1931).

The POSSESSED print is a 1080p HD master from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative, and it looks absolutely terrific. I don't think a film of this vintage could look or sound better. I was impressed.

Extras from the year of the film's release consist of the cartoon BOSKO THE DOUGHBOY (1931) and a short, LOVE TAILS OF MOROCCO (1931).

POSSESSED presents Crawford and Gable at their glamorous MGM pre-Code best, and this disc is very highly recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Quick Preview of TCM in July

It's time for a quick peek ahead at the July schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

As has been the case recently, I'm writing this preview with somewhat less information than usual, but I have enough information to provide a solid peek at some of the fun things coming to TCM starting 10 days from now.

There will be a "theme month" for Star of the Month, featuring singing stars every Monday evening. Singers featured will include Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and, of course, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

The July Noir Alley films will be ANGEL FACE (1953), BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1941), DARK PASSAGE (1947), and THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (1956).

These four films range from good to great, and it's worth noting that my appreciation for BLUES IN THE NIGHT grew when I saw it at this year's Noir City Hollywood Festival. Jack Carson and Priscilla Lane, seen here, are among the film's stars.

Eddie Muller's "Summer of Darkness: Eddie Muller's Top 25" will continue on Friday evenings in July. The lineup features top classics, including one of my personal favorites, CRISS CROSS (1949).

The TCM Spotlight on Tuesdays is on independent American filmmakers, including names such as Howard Hughes, Ida Lupino, and Hal Roach.

As usual, Independence Day will be celebrated with titles include 1776 (1972), which is also the day's Musical Matinee, YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942), and THE MUSIC MAN (1962). Late that evening will be the TCM premiere of INDEPENDENCE DAY (1983) -- not the 1996 blockbuster, but a drama starring Kathleen Quinlan.

Filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in July include Clarence Brown, Barbara Bel Geddes, Charles Laughton, Tom Hanks, Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers, and Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

A tribute to Jill Clayburgh will include three TCM premieres, including STARTING OVER (1979).

July 1st, which is Canada Day for our neighbors to the north, will feature Canadian-born actors such as Walter Pidgeon and Jack Carson. Other July programming themes include MGM musicals, con artists, nuns, motorcycles, and hot weather.

I'm also tickled by an evening with back-to-back screenings of the 1934 and 1980 versions of LITTLE MISS MARKER; the later version, starring Walter Matthau and Julie Andrews, will be a TCM premiere.

I'll have a much more detailed look on TCM's July schedule posted here around July 1st.

Happy Summer!

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Shortly before I left on my recent trip, the Warner Archive Collection announced a whopping 12 new Blu-ray titles. Initially the entire dozen were due to come out July 28th, but then half were pushed back a few days, to August 3rd. The terrific list includes THE KEYHOLE (1933), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935), RANDOM HARVEST (1942), COLT .45 (1950), MACAO (1952), and CRIME WAVE (1953). Visit Blu-ray.com for the complete list.

 

...Universal Pictures will be releasing Blu-rays of several films previously available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, including THE SPOILERS (1942), PITTSBURGH (1942), and FOXFIRE (1955).

...Upcoming Kino Lorber releases include a July 21st 3D release of Martin and Lewis in MONEY FROM HOME (1953), which was shown at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival; it will have two commentary tracks...John Wayne in THE WAR WAGON (1967) will be coming to both Blu-ray and 4K in late August; it will also have two different commentary tracks...and Brit Noir Collection IV will be out at a date still to be announced. The titles in this fourth volume are THE TECKMAN MYSTERY (1954), TIME IS MY ENEMY (1954), and THEY CAN'T HANG ME (1955).

...Fox Corp. is planning to buy Roku.

...Leonard Maltin recently hosted a screening of Disney's THE ROCKETEER (1991) at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

...I'm very excited about the upcoming publication of VIRGINIA GREY: GOOD LUCK CHARM by Olympia Kiriakou; it will be out from the University Press of Kentucky on April 6, 2027. Readers may recall I'm quite fond of Grey; I paid tribute to her here in 2022 and have also written about her for my Classic Movie Hub Western RoundUp column.  This book will be a "must buy" for me, and I'm sure many of my readers will feel the same.

...ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING has announced its cast for Season 6, including Jim Broadbent and also David Tennant of DR. WHO fame.

...I enjoyed this New York Times article by Jason Bailey on the Universal Westerns series currently playing at the Museum of Modern Art.

...Cinecon has announced its 2026 honorees: Nancy Kwan, Anna Maria Alberghetti, and Lainie Kazan will be honored at the festival in early September. June 21st Update: Cinecon has announced that Barbara Eden will also be honored.

...The latest reviews I've enjoyed reading include Colin on Audie Murphy's SIX BLACK HORSES (1962) at Riding the High Country...Karen Burroughs Hannsberry has written about some of her favorite "dark" noirs, CRISS CROSS (1949) and THE KILLING (1956), at Classic Movie Hub...and at Trailers From Hell, CineSavant Glenn Erickson has reviewed Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in the Warner Archive Collection release of POSSESSED (1931). I should be reviewing the latter film in the near future; I'm partway through it and loving it so far.

...Notable Passings: I was sorry to learn from John DiLeo of the death of film historian Jerry Vermilye at the age of 94. Some of his books, such as his titles for the Pyramid Illustrated History of the Movies, have been on my shelves since I was a very young classic film fan; his book on Cary Grant is seen here...Judy Wyler, the 84-year-old daughter of William Wyler and Margaret Tallichet, was tragically found dead in her running car in Redding, California, alongside her also-deceased 86-year-old husband, Wylie Sheldon. The Sheldons may have died due to heat; an investigation is taking place...I was sorry to learn of the sudden death of Joan Crawford's grandson, Casey LaLonde, at the age of 54. I just saw him introduce LETTY LYNTON (1933) at the TCM Classic Film Festival on May 1st with George Feltenstein and Eddie Muller. LaLonde was credited with realizing that Warner Bros. might not need to wait for the film to fall into public domain a few years hence before they could release it, since the rights to the underlying play at the center of the film's long-running legal controversy had lapsed. The Warner Bros. legal department agreed with his theory.

...More Notable Passings: Oscar-winning visual effects artist Brian Johnson has passed on at 86. He won the Oscar for ALIEN (1979) and also received a special achievement award for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)...Actress Margaret Kerry, best known as the live-action model for Tinker Bell for Disney's PETER PAN (1953), has died at the age of 97...Actor-Comedian Ronnie Schell has passed on at 94. Known for TV's GOMER PYLE: USMC (1964-69), he also had a supporting role in Disney's THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE (1978). I have a vague memory he may have opened for Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy when I saw them perform in Kansas City when I was young; I did find reference that he toured with them so I suspect I'm correct on that...Daveigh Chase, the voice of Lilo in Disney's LILO & STITCH (2002), has passed away at the young age of 35...Film critic Gene Shalit has died at 100...Writer-Director-Producer James Burrows has died at 85. His prolific career included co-creating CHEERS (1982-93); between 1993 and 1997 he directed 32 episodes of one of my very favorite series, the CHEERS spinoff FRASIER. His father was Broadway's Abe Burrows.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my June 6th column.

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Tonight's Movie: Hopscotch (1980)

Having very recently enjoyed Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson in HOUSE CALLS (1978), I was quite interested in seeing them paired again in HOPSCOTCH (1980).

Fortunately I had picked up the Criterion Collection DVD in a half-price sale not long ago, so I didn't have to wait long to watch it.

HOPSCOTCH is a lighthearted spy film, the enjoyable type of "midrange" movie released with some frequency decades ago, which is sadly largely missing from today's moviegoing scene.

Matthau plays Miles Kendig, a CIA field agent who is benched by his new boss (Ned Beatty) for not arresting his Soviet counterpart Yaskov (Herbert Lom) when he had the opportunity.

Miles hadn't arrested Yaskov for logical reasons, and rather than sit at a desk until his retirement, Miles decides to write a tell-all memoir to embarrass the CIA in general and his boss in particular. He drips the manuscript to them one chapter at a time, causing the intelligence community in both the U.S. and the Soviet Union to go nuts.

Miles's old flame Isobel (Jackson) warns Miles that he's crazy and will have to go on the run, but he enjoys the thrill of the chase and has an ultimate plan, which he can accomplish with Isobel's help...

This was a fun 106-minute watch. I enjoyed that while it was about serious things, it's treated mostly as a comedy; even when Miles is inside a house being blasted to pieces by the CIA, you never really fear for his safety.

Instead, it's fun to see him continue to pull tricks out of his bag as the movie goes on. I'll add that his grand finale, involving a small plane, was curiously reminiscent of the plane finale in one of Matthau's very best films, CHARLEY VARRICK (1973).

Matthau and Jackson again have good chemistry, although I think their relationship isn't developed as well as in HOUSE CALLS. The characters have a history when they reconnect, and Jackson's Isobel unfortunately isn't given enough to do; this film is more Matthau's show than anything, though Jackson's brisk, ultra-competent presence is welcome.

I have to admit that I used to kind of write Matthau off, but ever since seeing CHARLEY VARRICK I have increasingly come to appreciate him; for instance, I loved him in MIRAGE (1965), and he was terrific in THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974), when I noted I was becoming more of a fan. I've gone from considering him "hit or miss," as I wrote in my MIRAGE review, to actively seeking out his films, and I once again enjoyed him in this.

Lom is fun in a small, twinkly part as the Russian spy, while Beatty's cartoonish character -- not too far from his Otis in SUPERMAN (1978) -- adds to the viewer not needing to take the film seriously. Sam Waterston plays Miles's colleague who tries to support him with the top brass, to no avail.

The film was a family affair, with Matthau's son David playing a hapless CIA agent and his stepdaughter Lucy Saroyan (daughter of William!) as a game-for-anything private pilot he hires; when they part, she tells Miles he reminds him of her father.

HOPSCOTCH was directed by cinematographer-turned-director Ronald Neame. It was written by Brian Garfield and Bryan Forbes, based on Garfield's novel. The cinematographers were Arthur Ibbetson and Brian W. Roy.

The movie is rated R for language. An interesting extra on the Criterion disc is the option of turning on the "family friendly" soundtrack which aired on broadcast TV, which deletes the saltier language.

The Criterion disc features a restored print and also includes interviews, trailers, and an essay by Glenn Kenny.

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Tonight's Movie: It's a Wise Child (1931) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

Last year I attended two days of the Cinecon Classic Film Festival, but I was disappointed I was unable to catch IT'S A WISE CHILD (1931), a rarely seen pre-Code comedy starring Marion Davies.

Very happily IT'S A WISE CHILD has just been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

Like LETTY LYNTON (1932), which is due out in the immediate future, the underlying play by Laurence E. Johnson has fallen into the public domain, clearing the path for release.

Davies plays Joyce Stanton, a free spirit who has managed to become engaged to an elderly banker (Robert McWade) while also dating one of his clerks (Lester Vail).

Joyce exasperates her family's loyal attorney and trustee Steve (Sidney Blackmer), who has secretly loved her for many years and continues to bail her out of various scrapes.

Joyce ending up in jail after the police raid a roadhouse is bad enough, but when she's spotted visiting a maternity nurse soon thereafter, the town gossips go crazy, starting with the banker's sister (Emily Fitzroy).

The thought is that Joyce "needs to get married" immediately...but who's the "lucky" man?

Meanwhile, Joyce is actually covering up for her brother Bill (Ben Alexander), whose brief secret marriage to housemaid Annie (Marie Prevost) has led Annie to expect a future blessing. But Annie and Bill are no longer in love, and Annie's old flame, ice man Cool Kelly (James Gleason), is mooning after Annie...

Needless to say, this is a very "pre-Code" plot; the characters dance around using specific terms like "pregnant," but the scandalous goings-on are made quite clear.

There is a *lot* of plot packed into this 83-minute film, which occasionally betrays its stagebound origins, with characters entering and exiting the house "stage"; that said, the film keeps things moving at a sprightly pace, though it's slightly overstuffed with characters. Joyce's sister and brother-in-law (Hilda Vaughn and Johnny Arthur) are fairly extraneous to the proceedings and could easily have been excised.

On the other hand, what's not to love about Polly Moran's long-suffering housemaid Bertha, who constantly shuffles back and forth to both the front and back doors to admit a variety of characters. She's very funny, and she amused me more as the film went along.

As for Davies, I've come to realize over time that she's an underrated comic gem. Yes, Joyce can be a thoughtless pill, but rather in the way of some of Deanna Durbin's characters, you forgive her simply because she's Marion Davies! A scene where she accompanies Steve's rundown of her bad behavior with melodramatic piano chords was especially funny.

I associate Sidney Blackmer with older characters, such as Tracy Lord's father in HIGH SOCIETY (1956), so I enjoyed seeing him in this as a relatively young -- mid 30s -- romantic lead. His constant care for Joyce was endearing, and I loved his happy ending. (I trust this isn't a spoiler; after all, this is a romantic comedy!)

Speaking of happy endings, there's also an adorable proposal scene between Gleason and Prevost.

If you blink you might miss it, but Clara Blandick's family matriarch is addressed as "Auntie Em," which was a jolt given that's the role she would become known for just a few years later, in THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939).

IT'S A WISE CHILD was directed by Robert Z. Leonard and filmed by Oliver T. Marsh.

The Blu-ray print is from a 1080p HD master from a new 4K scan of the "best preservation elements." It's slightly soft, as one would expect from a film of this vintage, but it looks very good and is free of skips, crackles, or lines marring the picture. The Warner Archive can always be counted on to present films in the best possible light.

I had to turn my TV volume up rather significantly past the spot where I usually set it for Warner Archive Blu-rays, but other than that the sound was fine, with clear dialogue. Optional English captions are included.

Disc extras consist of two shorts with Polly Moran: The 16-minute CRAZY HOUSE (1930), in two-strip Technicolor, and THE ROUNDER (1930), a 20-minute short costarring Jack Benny. Also included are the cartoons BOSKO'S FOX HUNT (1931) and BOSKO'S SODA FOUNTAIN (1931).

IT'S A WISE CHILD had me chuckling as I watched this new Blu-ray, and I hope I have the chance to watch it with an appreciative audience at a future film festival.

Classic film fans, especially those who love pre-Codes and/or Marion Davies, will want to check out this disc; what a treat to have this movie readily available in a nice print at long last!

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Tonight's Movie: Deadman's Curve (1978) (and Concert in the Rocks)

I'm back from a wonderful few days traveling up and down Highway 395.

I spent last weekend in Lone Pine, where I attended the Concert in the Rocks for the first time. This annual event in the Alabama Hills benefits Lone Pine's Museum of Western Film History.

This year's concert featured Dean Torrence, formerly of Jan and Dean, backed by the Surf City AllStars. They sang a lively concert of "beach" music made popular by Jan and Dean, as well as the Beach Boys.

Dean is now 86, but I never would have guessed it from his energetic 90-minute performance had I not been aware of how many decades had passed since the start of his music career!

More on the concert further down in this post, but first, a look at the TV-movie DEADMAN'S CURVE (1978), which I'd never seen before.

The film was shown twice on June 13th in the museum theater; I attended the 10:00 a.m. showing. The print wasn't particularly good but was chosen because better prints are incomplete, rather than the film's 96 minutes. I quickly adjusted to the slightly fuzzy way it looked, and the sound quality was solid.

Richard Hatch, who starred in BATTLESTAR: GALACTICA later that same year, stars as Jan, who is smart and talented but not a very nice person. He's mean to his friends and unfaithful to his girlfriend Susie (Denise DuBarry, BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON).

Jan's friend and singing partner Dean, played by Bruce Davison, is a mellower type and puts up with Jan's behavior; together they hit the music big time. Then one fateful day in 1966 Jan has a near-fatal car wreck, all the more eerie given the duo's hit song "Deadman's Curve."

Jan was in a coma for weeks and worked toward recovery for years. He was never again quite the same, but given how badly he was injured, the functionality he did regain seems miraculous.

The movie, directed by Richard Compton, costarred Pamela Bellwood (DYNASTY), Denise Floy Dean, Anne-Marie Martin, and Priscilla Cory.

I found it engrossing, and while some of the movie was fictionalized -- Jan's girlfriend Susie didn't exist but was a composite of women in his life -- it was also educational.

I especially loved seeing '70s Los Angeles in the film; I found a webpage which has photos of a number of the locations. A small theater seen in the movie still exists right around the corner from the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood!

One of the sequences features Dean doing some dangerous skateboarding maneuvers. The shots of Dean skateboarding from the back were actually of Davison's stunt double, Diamond Farnsworth. Farnsworth -- son of stuntman-actor Richard Farnsworth -- is himself a legendary stuntman who was a talented skateboarder. I've been fortunate to see him numerous times at past Lone Pine Film Festivals.

What made this screening extra-special was that both Davison and Farnsworth were there to discuss the film after it concluded, including taking some audience questions. Davison said when he worked with Richard Farnsworth on ULZANA'S RAID (1972) the senior Farnsworth told him that his son Diamond would be a perfect double for Davison, and with DEADMAN'S CURVE it finally came to pass.

Davison shared that Dean Torrence was on the DEADMAN'S CURVE set daily, making sure the film and characters were as authentic as possible, and indeed, Davison said that Torrence rewrote much of Dalene Young's screenplay on the fly; he would cross out dialogue he wanted removed and rewrite it on the back of the page.

The screenplay was inspired by a well-known Rolling Stone article written by Paul Morantz. An interesting tidbit heard at the screening is that Morantz authored a very good screenplay on Audie Murphy and PTSD, which has yet to be produced; Morantz died in 2022.

Richard Hatch sadly died of cancer in 2017. Davison said the last time he'd seen Hatch was at a reunion for the TV series THE WALTONS; he and Hatch had each appeared in an episode.

I'll insert here that, as it happens, I met Davison in Lone Pine in 2017, as I recounted here; and when I was a teenager I saw him on stage in a production of AS YOU LIKE IT directed by Tony Richardson.

The movie provided some great background history for the evening's concert, which took place in a section of the Alabama Hills known for decades as Lone Ranger Canyon.

My husband, who volunteers for the fall film festival, was out in hot weather on Saturday morning helping set up these tables!

When the band started singing "Let's go surfin' now..." red, white, and blue beach balls started flying!  It was tremendous fun.

The evening provided some remarkable visuals to go with the great music:

It was especially memorable when Bruce Davison and Diamond Farnsworth came on stage to join in the last couple songs, including "Barbara Ann."  Diamond even played guitar! He's in the striped shirt to the right of Dean Torrence, with Davison on his other side at the microphone.

Another great time in Lone Pine!

DEADMAN'S CURVE can be seen digitally via Amazon. 

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